Fire U-16 Academy Goes Perfect 3-0-0 at Florida Showcase

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. -- The Chicago Fire U-16 Academy side completed a perfect 3-0-0 run at this past week's U.S. Soccer Development Academy Showcase, rounding out their time in Florida with an emphatic 3-0 victory over the Portland Timbers Tuesday morning.

Following the lead of the U-18s the day before, the Fire U-16 Academy opened up Showcase play Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC.

Just after halftime, Luca Giovine drew and tallied a penalty kick in the 45th minute.

Seattle responded with a spot kick of their own to equalize in the 54th minute, but J.C. Lujan restored the lead by bagging the eventual game-winner one minute later to earn the 2-1 victory.

After seeing the U-18s play to a scoreless draw with PA Classics the day before, the U-16s would get an early goal from Alex Underwood off a Collin Fernandez feed in the eighth minute.

Despite a number chances, the early marker was all that would be required as the U-16s came away with a 1-0 victory on Sunday.

After a day of respite on Monday, the 16s returned to take on Portland Tuesday morning.

A scoreless first half led to a late second half explosion from the Fire as Oscar Gonzalez set up Underwood for the go-ahead goal in the 65th minute.

The Fire would double their lead two minutes later when Martin Alba fed Luca Giovine for his second goal of the showcase.

Giovine would then help ice the game, providing Underwood with a pass that led to the third goal in the 77th minute, giving the Fire U-16s a 3-0 win.

With the results this weekend, the U-16s close out the 2012 with a 9-3-3 record, good enough for second in the Development Academy’s Mid America Division heading into the winter break.

The U-16s will open up 2013 with a visit to the Indiana Fire Academy on Saturday, March 9.

Indiana Fire Academy U-16s go 2-1-0 this weekend

The Indiana Fire Academy U-16s achieved a 2-1-0 record during the showcase this weekend.

Opening up play last Saturday, the team downed Match Fit Chelsea (NJ) 3-1, fell 4-2 to Richmond Kickers (VA) on Sunday and defeated New Jersey Soccer Academy 1-0 Tuesday morning.

After the Showcase, the U-16s close out 2012 sitting 2-9-3 in the Mid America Division.